TFA Ch1 7Notes

8/10/2019 TFA Ch1 7Notes

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Chapter 1

! Okonkwo is a wealthy and respected warrior ofthe Umuofia clan

! Unoka was his father, a weak man whoalways borrowed money and couldnt pay his

debts! Unokas laziness meant his wife and children

often went hungry! Unoka was a skilled flute player and eloquent

(skilled, excellent) speaker


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Chapter 2! Ogbuefi Ezeugo announces the murder of a woman

in the market of neighboring village (Mbaino)! Umuofia has reputation for fierce warriors, powerful

magic!

Okonkwo has taken five human heads in pastbattles. He drinks palm-wine from his first head onimportant occasions.

! As the fiercest warrior, Okonkwo chosen to delivermessage to Mbaino; they must hand over a virgin

and a young man or go to war! The boy, Ikemefuna, goes to Okonkwo for

safekeeping! Okonkwo instructs his first wife to care for Ikemefuna


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Chapter 3! Okonkwo builds fortune alone; starts as a

sharecropper becomes a warrior, farmer, andfamily provider

! Nwakibie gives him 800 seed yams to start afarm (when Okonkwo only asked for 400)

! Unokas friend gives him another 400, but horribledroughts and rains destroy majority of harvest

! Harvest left profound mark on Okonkwo;considers this proof of his fortitude/inner mettle

(strength)! Okonkwo feels only disgust for fathers reliance

on words(need to speak); he uses either actionor silence


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Chapter 4

! At first, Ikemefuna is homesick and scared, but soon

becomes part of the family (tells stories; an olderbrother to Nwoye, calls Okwonkwo father)

! Okonkwo grows fond of Ikemefuna, but does not showaffection (believes it is sign of weakness)

! During the Week of Peace, Okonkwo beats Ojiugo,after she leaves her hut to have her hair braidedwithout first cooking dinner

! Okonkwo repents, follows the priests orders. OgbuefiEzeudu: The punishment for breaking the Peace of Anihas become mild in Umuofia.

! After Week of Peace, villagers begin to clear land,prepare for planting farms.

! Nwoye and Ikemefuna help Okonkwo prepare theseed yams, but he is hard on the boys


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Chapter 5! Just before harvest, village holds Feastof the New Yam to thank the earth

goddess, Ani! Okonkwo considers feasts times of

idleness and doesnt like it! After beating second wife, Ekwefi, he

wants to go hunting. Ekwefi muttersremark about guns that never shot,and Okonkwo shoots at her and misses

! In turn, Okonkwos daughters bring abowl of food to Okonkwos hut


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Chapter 6!

With excited spectators, the wrestling match takesplace on the village ilo! Maduka (son of Okonkwos friend Obierika) wins

one match within seconds.! Ekwefi speaks with Chielo, who takes the role of

the priestess of Agbala, the Oracle of the Hills andCaves

! Chielo inquires about Ezinma, whom she calls mydaughter

! Ezinma seems to have come to stay (she hasreached the age of ten and is unlikely to die).


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Chapter 7! Ikemefuna has been with the family for 3years, having

kindled a new fire in Nwoye (becomes more masculine)! Okonkwo frequently invites the two boys to listen to warrior

stories (Nwoye misses his mothers stories, but says he dislikeswomens concerns to please his father)

! Locusts descend upon, villagers collect and eat them! Ogbuefi Ezeudu tells Okonkwo not to take part Ikemefunas

death, as the boy calls him father! Okonkwo lies to Ikemefuna, telling him that he will be

returning to his home village; Nwoye bursts into tears! When attacked, Ikemefuna cries to Okonkwo for help.

Okonkwo doesnt wish to look weak, so he kills him withmachete! Nwoye understands Ikemefuna is dead and is very upset

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TFA Ch1 7Notes